Page 95 of Trapped to Tame
She cast her eyes down as she made her way slowly to the door. She knocked and it opened. She disappeared through it and Eve heard it lock again a moment later.
Eve ate the food the woman had brought. She wasn’t hungry in the least, but it tasted pleasant enough even if she couldn’t rightly say what it was. It was a welcome change from the rabbits and deer that she and the Brothers had been eating out in the wilds.
She felt a pang of loss when she thought of them. Would they come for her? They wouldn’t leave her here, would they?
She’d just finished her meal when the door opened again. The human girl came shuffling in once more.
‘What's your name?’ Eve whispered.
‘Sym,’ she said. ‘My name is Sym.’
‘Can you help me get out of here?’
She looked up, fear flashing in her eyes. ‘No. Human slaves don't leave this place.’
‘I'm not a human slave,’ Eve countered.
Sym raised a brow. ‘It doesn't matter what you are. You’re in the same lot as the rest of us. They'll use you up until there’s nothing left.’
She took the tray to the door and knocked as she had before. This time, after it opened, two burly guards stood at the threshold.
‘You’re to come with us,’ they said, one of them pushing Sym out of the way as casually as he’d bat at a fly.
She slumped into the wall, barely keeping a hold on the tray she carried. But she didn't look up nor say a word as she righted herself and shuffled down the hallway in the opposite direction.
‘Don’t go far, human,’ one of the guards called softly after her. ‘I’ll be making use of you when my rounds are done.’
His friend chuckled. ‘Why do you always want that one, maimed as she is?’
The first one winked. ‘I like the way she struggles. Besides, I heard she was bred once and, if I can get a babe from her, my status will be elevated with the Council enough that I won’t have to work for this cunt anymore.’
Eve didn’t try to hide her disgust and contempt at their words, but neither of them seemed bothered in the least by her opinion.
They didn’t speak anymore but were much more respectful of her than they had been of Sym, keeping their distance from her as they led her down a large corridor that was oddly sparse in comparison to what she now considered to be fae standards.
She soon realized why as they turned a corner and the luxury began; carpeted floors, rugs, furs, tapestries, murals, fine furniture, and beautiful, useless baubles. Where she had been must be where the human slaves were housed.
She was brought into a large hall where her father sat at the head of a very long table, food piled upon it.
‘Ah, there you are,’ he said pleasantly. ‘Come. Sit with me.’
She did as he said, taking a seat next to him.
‘Look at this,’ he said, brandishing a letter.
She glanced at it but made no move to take it.
‘I can't read,’ she said mulishly, and he looked surprised.
‘Well, that won’t do at all,’ he muttered to himself.
A short, thin man stepped forward.
‘Have him brought,’ her father said, not deigning to look up.
The man bowed, leaving the room.
Eve didn't have time to ask who was being brought before the doors were opened and Talik of all men was brought in. He was in heavy chains, his head hanging low. He’d been beaten, dried blood crusting his nose and mouth.
